International Business News

Business minded people always find themselves digging the innermost part of their minds of ways to earn a profit. Whether that be expanding the current brand line that they have or creating a new trend for the public, it will always surprise the shoppers on how creative and inventive these entrepreneurs are. One of the most unexpected frenzy in the market is perhaps the ugly Christmas sweaters. This tradition during holiday seasons has become popular over America. People hit retail stores for something ugly and buy these. This is a ridiculous trend but it evokes the spirit of the season that is why this trend won’t be going anywhere.

So while we are still a long way from celebrating the most anticipated Christmas holiday seasons, it is imperative that we prepare for a long way haul. How will you boost your sales this coming holiday season? Here are some tips that might help you out.

• Extend your store hours. Market analysts are expecting that the online shopping will represent at least $100 billion of the sales this year. However, don’t get too comfortable in ensuring only that your website looks appealing to customers. While online shopping is doing great, it is expected that consumers will spend $500 billion shopping at malls and downtown retailers. You should consider opening early in the morning and closing your store late so that you can accommodate more shoppers.

• Consider giving freebies to customers. Instead of giving discounts to items, you can instead add a freebie as a gift to your customers. One of Target’s promotions the other year was giving away $5 gift card. This really attracted consumers. It increased the overall profit of the retailer.

• Give your customers a break and offer free transport of goods. The Free Shipping Day was founded by Luke Knowles six years ago as a way of promoting their online sales. In their company, most shoppers respond to their Free Shipping promotion. Find ways to expedite delivery of goods to customers. This way, they will keep on purchasing from your store knowing how effective your delivery is. During the holiday season, make sure that you update yourself regularly of your shipping deadlines.

Though real estate investing in the US has become a dangerous market, US banks are seeing a glimmer of hope as mortgage lending in the first few months this year surged in number. The lowered bank rates encouraged citizens to refinance and restructure home loans. HomeUnion real estate investing is seeing this development as a sign of an improvement of market investing ahead.

The banks earning on mortgages jumped high and earnings were also boost by the higher number of trades in bond and the increasing underwriting revenue from such trades. The banking giants will start to report their earnings next week. The banks are expected to report big profits which will exclude one-time items. This prediction is according to a forecast made by an analyst at Thomson Reuters. The analyst further said that banks are recuperating well in the mortgage sector.
An equity research analyst said that the numbers in mortgage banking are very strong. The revenue from this particular sector is expected to exceed the expectations of bankers.

Mortgage banking is further strengthened by the falling interest in borrowing. The average mortgage rate fell to 3.63 percent during the first quarter of this year. This was according to a mortgage market survey conducted by Freddie Mac. This slide down is the lowest since May 2013. This is in contrast to last year’s when the rates were on the higher spectrum.

Why did the interest rates fell? The interest rates dove down with the slow growth in Europe and Asia, this phenomenon encouraged investors to buy US debt. With the decline in interests, the index of the Mortgage Bankers Association of applications to refinance various mortgages doubled significantly from December 2014 towards the middle of January 2015. It would a considerable amount of time to close the mortgages and turn them into fees for the bank but at least a few of the loans are expected to close during the quarter. The mortgages that did not close in the first quarter will help in boosting profits for the second quarter. The cost cuts and multiple layoffs last year could become a huge profit for some banks.

The theme of this year’s The Philadelphia Flower Show is “Celebrate the Movies” and will be a tribute to all films produced by Disney.

All Disney props and characters will be interpreted by garden and floral designers rather than replicate them. This means there will be no decorations made of life size images of Disney characters.

The exhibits will be an interpretation of the films. Take for example the exhibit inspired by Mulan which is called Stoney Bank Nurseries made by Glen Mills. In that certain exhibit, audience will see resemblance to the movie Mulan such as the Chinese gardens with more character, reflecting pool which contains ceramic koi, water lilies and iris and sculptured rocks that was made to look like real natural limestone because of the added effects such as etched cavities, smoothed edges and the weathered holes.

According to one of the head of the family business, the Mulan-inspired garden was made to give the audience a feeling of tranquility and to trigger reflections. This is the 36th time that the business has appeared on the Flower Show.

Another exhibit was inspired by the film, Pirates of the Caribbean but with a more modern approach. The exhibit was made by Mark Cook, owns a landscaping business in Doylestown, and it features a treasure-chest bigger than life with overflowing cannons and gigantic palm trees. Cook’s business has been joining the Flower show since 2009.

The Philadelphia Flower Show may be checked out at the Convention Center from March 1 to 8, 2015.

Gene London will also be gracing the Flower Show with his presence and is expected to bring around 50 costumes to the Show which will all be displayed at Room 203. The admission fee to view all the outfits is $5.00. London is known for his passion in collecting movie memorabilia since he was in the early 20s. He is now 83 years old and residing at Hallandale Beach, Fla. London’s collection includes 60,000 dresses, gowns and accessories which are prized at $3 million.

Another sponsor of the Flower Show is the Bank of America which has been a generous financer for some of the most well-known films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, West Side Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Hunger Games and many more.

Australia’s bold decision to regulate the cigarette packaging has stirred rumors of UK following suit. The British American Tobacco is already expressing its discontent and planned lawsuit once the UK government impose such regulations upon cigarette companies. Legal actions will be acted upon by the manufacturers of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes. The new cigarette packaging will be plain and is said to be launched next month.

These legal actions will be asking for compensations since the effectivity of such law may impact the business of either big or small cigarette manufacturers.

The UK parliament will be dissolving soon and matters regarding the plain cigarette packaging are expected to be brought into light this March. The votes will decide whether cigarette manufacturers and big companies get to keep their branding in the cigarette packaging or not. If passed, this new law will be effective as early as the month of May next year, 2016.

Legal actions are already being discussed by tobacco industry after it has lost its battle to Australia which is now the only country with rules for plain cigarette packaging. These rules will also be included in the future plans of Ireland.

There have been rumors after a full year sales report has been revealed by the second largest tobacco company in the world. The report shows how the fluctuations in the currency are responsible for the diminishing profit in the tobacco industry.

Adjusted profits are revealed to have fallen by 7.2% because of the weakening of the pound currency. If the currency rates continues to stay in this track, the tobacco industry is expecting a 10% effect in the profits for the while financial year due to currency.

Volume of cigarettes manufactured has also decreased by 1.4% because of the smoking rate which continues to decrease. In Western Europe, the decline is around 5.9%. The volume decrease is not felt in countries such as Ukraine, Turkey and Iran since smoking rate in the following continues to rise.

BAT is also keen on buying the 24.7% left in Souza Cruz, a Brazilian subsidiary. The conditions are favorable because the Brazilian real is now quite weak.

The popularity of property for sale in hua hin has grown exponentially over the last few years. The boom in the market is due to locals and foreigners who are looking for second homes in tourist destinations. New property developments are cropping up at an alarming rate which has significantly increased the choices for Property for Sale in hua hin.

If you are really serious about buying property in Hua Hin it is important to get a feel of the place. Life in Thailand is different from the West and it is not always as idyllic as claimed in travel brochures. Even if you have spent two weeks in Hua Hin, it is not same as living in the place full time. Your choice usually depends on how much you can afford because Hua Hin leads in home prices in Thailand. Houses and condos in Hua Hin have an average unit price of 4.48 million baht.

Hua Hin is no longer considered a small town because it is rapidly expanding into an urban location with new developments appearing almost every month. The type of property to buy is also one of the areas where you need to make a decision according your budget because a beachfront villa costs 10 times more than a one-bedroom or two-bedroom bungalow in the hills. Villas are still selling in Hua Hin but the number of buyers has become more modest. Hua Hin’s condominium market was very attractive to affluent buyers from Bangkok but more recently, demand is stronger from medium-income buyers. Potential investors are looking online for the asking price of condo units.

The internet has become the most convenient and effective source of source of Property for Sale in hua hin. By typing Hua Hin property on the search box hundreds of real estate listings will be available. However, most of the listings are redundant because agents list the same properties. There is plenty to choose from based on house/unit size, number of rooms, level of furnishings, presence of terrace or balcony, swimming pool, secure development and many more. If you are a local, you can opt for an empty lot that can be developed or resold at some future time.

With the number of pay-per-click options that website owners can choose and benefit from, sometimes SEO can be overlooked and to an extent, forgotten. This is because people now believe that pay-per-click options can greatly boost traffic into their websites. What they’re forgetting is that SEO can do that too although the results may not happen too quickly. People come up of different beliefs and SEO myths about SEO and many other people are uninformed enough to believe these myths.

Luckily though, experts have debunked common SEO myths just recently to help put SEO on a positive light.

1. SEO DOES NOT WORK
This is probably the most common myth about SEO. Fortunately, though, it is not true. About 44 percent of all customers begin their search on search engines. It is also the fourth biggest internet activity after social media, video and email.
SEO converts traffic into profit. About 55 percent of B2B marketers have admitted and acknowledged that SEO has the biggest impact on their generation goals.
2. SEO IS EXPENSIVE
SEO is accompanied by many complex tasks that need time and effort. This is why you would most probably need the help of experts. It is true that you do need to pay someone to help you with SEO, but after an SEO project has been finished, it keeps giving results and when you would compare it to pay-per-click options, it is definitely much cheaper.
3. SEO TAKES MORE TIME
Yes, this may be true. SEO does take a lot more time compared to PPC which gives instant results. Unfortunately, with pay-per-click or PPC, you would have to invest on it constantly and go in on a never ending bidding war against other businesses who want your place.

4. SEO CHANGES CONSTANTLY AND QUICKLY
This is also true. Google always changes its algorithm but this should not really bother you because it does not affect your rankings. It also does not affect users. Just know the ones that could have an impact on your website and adapt to it.

5. AUTOMATED SEO
There is no such thing as an automated SEO because SEO cannot be automated. It does not involve any marketing processes.

Hua Hin real estate industry has been on the boom for the past few years. Tourists have grown to love the place and are looking to put up a second home in the area.

If you are planning to jump in the band wagon and buy yourself a Hua Hin real estate property, below are some things that you need to bear in mind before deciding.

It is essential to hold a mind list of your home preferences while picking your new house in Hua Hin. Try to ask yourself these questions:

• How much money am I willing to spend?

• In which part of Hua Hin do I want to live?

• What kind of property am I seeking for? Is it a land, house, apartment or condo?

• What are the features that I want my new home to have?

• When is the right time to buy the house and move in?

Perhaps the critical deciding factor in determining your property purchase is the size of your budget. If you are a foreigner planning to buy a land in Thailand, please be guided that you cannot do so. And if you plan to get a mortgage in Hua Hin but are not Thai, it will be impossible to do so. When purchasing properties, you need also to include in your calculations additional expenses like taxes, government charges, lawyer’s fees, transfer fees and inspection fees. You should budget extra money to cover these expenses.

The location of your new property should also be considered. You need to find a good location that will suit the lifestyle that you have as well as the following:

• Public transport

• Beaches and other amenities

• Shopping malls and town centre

• Quiet areas and safe streets

• Educational facilities

• Utilities like water and electricity and internet connections

The next thing to consider is the type of property to buy. There are plenty of property options to choose from. If you are interested to buy a property in Hua Hin you can choose a beach front condo, town houses or shop front apartments. It is imperative that you give careful thought to the property that you will be buying.

Becoming a successful landlord is full challenges. It is important for a landlord to establish clear policies to avoid disputes with tenants. The landlord must make it clear whether end of tenancy cleaning is required or if pets are allowed in the property. Tenants are usually concerned about end of tenancy cleaning requirements so that they can avoid claims on their deposits.

Tips on how to be a successful landlord

A landlord who wants to succeed must ensure that the property is always presentable because it is more likely to attract tenants. Curb appeal must not be overlooked because according to some surveys, the decision of most tenants is based on how the property looks. A clean patio and garden can be seen by potential tenants when they drive by and it can influence the decision process.

If you want to impress potential tenants with the outside view, it also makes sense to gain a good impression of the interior. It is suggested to outsource cleaning to professional cleaning services who understand the true meaning of a clean property. Even if the property is in a perfect location with all the right features, potential tenants will likely be disappointed with dirt, dust and signs of disrepair.

The rule of thumb for landlords is to establish clear policies that tenants should be informed off prior to the start of tenancy. The policies include the security deposit which most tenants are interested in. Tenants should also be informed whether they are allowed to keep pets inside the property or if they will be required to hire end of tenancy cleaning services when they move out. Tenants will also be interested to know if their landlord will provide advance notice of visits.

All the issues of tenants must be addressed immediately. Tenants usually experience water, electricity and heating problems from time to time and landlords must act quickly when such situations arise. Tenants often appreciate their landlords when they show concern and this can encourage them to stay longer or provide good recommendations of the property.

All relations with tenants must be properly documented to help resolve any issues that may arise in the future.

Phuket has established itself as a world class tourist destination that it why there are lots of Phuket Apartments, townhouses, condominiums and pool villas. In fact, Phuket is also a popular destination for foreigners who are interested in property investment that will provide a steady income.

The military coup in Thailand and the subsequent declaration of martial law has slowed down property sales but the market has rebounded since the beginning of 2015. Many buyers are looking for low cost brand new villas with two or three bedrooms including a pool on a modest piece of land. These villas will typically range from 7 to 16 million baht or about $217,000 to $496,000.

In Phuket the market is largely made up of cash buyers that have continued to thrive even during the most challenging economic times. Traditionally, property buyers favored the west coast of the island but recently, the south and east coasts have gained popularity.

Aside from Phuket, foreign buyers are also interested in Bangkok, the resort areas of Pattaya and Hua Hin and the northern city of Chiang Mai which has become a popular retirement haven. Most of the foreign buyers in Chiang Mai look for the 3-bedroom and 3-bathroom houses on the outskirts of the city with a price range of 2 to 6 million baht or roughly US$60,000 to US$185,000.

Historically, foreign buyers in Thailand usually come from Britain, Europe, the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore but according to real estate agents, many buyers recently come from the Middle East, India and China. In Phuket, more buyers are part-time residents who commute to Hong Kong and Singapore to work.

Under the laws of Thailand, a foreign buyer can buy a building and a condo but not the land in their name. The most common arrangement is to buy a home while leasing the land. The lease is typically for 30 years but there are opportunities for 30-year extensions. A deal will usually include a purchase option for the land if in case the laws of foreign ownership are changed. Another option is to buy land through a company but foreigners usually set up companies just for the purpose of buying land.

Having more family members than bathrooms can be quite a hassle sometimes and is one of the reasons for quarreling. Your spouse might want to use the sink as the same time as you and it can be the start of an argument. These problems might be easily avoided with the installation of double vanity units. These types will make sure you can do whatever you like and however long you like and the other person can have his own space too without interrupting each other.

A new house can be exciting for all members involved and you might have to share the bed with your spouse but it doesn’t mean you have to share in everything. It would be good to invest in a functional and modern double vanity units. Mornings can be a rush and having your own space while preparing is ideal to avoid hassle and unnecessary quarrels. Having your own sink will give you more space and more time to do whatever you need to do without having to rush.

Putting your makeup and doing your hair won’t have to be done in a rush and your spouse might finish shaving without you having to interrupt and alternate using the bathroom mirror. This way you will each have your own sink and your own mirrors to use. There are also double sink vanities equipped with mirrors wide enough for two persons that each will still have their own space without interrupting in any way.

Another benefit in purchasing double vanity units is that the price is almost around the price of one but you get two items in all. Your money is worth more when buying a double unit because it can function for two persons compared to a single vanity. You both just need to agree on the style that you want, the design it comes with and the price for the unit. Another advantage is that you only need to install once. Before purchasing though, make sure that your space in the bathroom will be able to accommodate the double vanity. Measure the width before you make any purchases so it won’t be much trouble.

March 17, 2015 – Every hit TV show will have its own fan base. The same goes with My Little Pony. Although it was mainly intended for little girls, its latest reboot has given rise to an unprecedented fandom: the Bronies.

The Bronies are very unique among other fan bases because they consist of adult men who are typically fond of watching a show that is focusing on a demographic of little girls. The Bronies have definitely shocked most parts of the world and that shock came with a lot of cynicism and criticism.

But for the Bronies, their fandom was a blessing as evidenced by a computer science student who got his big break with the help of the Bronies.

Canadian Peter Deltchev is a computer science student. Besides that, he is also a dedicated Brony. In fact, he is an integral member of the Brony fandom in Canada. What’s remarkable about Peter is that most of his successes can all be attributed to his involvement with the Brony community.

He says that the opportunities that came knocking on his door are all thanks to the Bronies because through them, he was able to deploy his talents.

Peter Deltchev is also the founder of the Ponyverse, a so-called ‘super community’ of different My Little Pony fan sites.

Although he considers himself a person who works in the background, he has contributed a lot to the Brony cause. He helps run BronyCAN, the biggest Brony convention of Canada, and thanks to him, they have a huge forum which has about 30,000 members. Deltchev is also a founder of a number of fan sites related to My Little Pony.

Deltchev says that many people think that Bronies are typically man-children who don’t have a purpose in their lives. They think that Bronies are miserable men who find relief with cartoons for girls.

But he says that he is a living proof that Bronies are not what they’re misconceived to be although he did not deny that there were members like that. He says that he is one of those who had their careers launched thanks to the Brony fandom.

Miami, FL – Good news for the residents of Miami, car owners and those who have automotive businesses because a new company that would help them with their security needs was just recently opened. Call Miami Locksmith Company, or Flat Rate Locksmith, says that their team of hardworking mobile locksmiths would give them a fast and reliable service. According to them, all of their employees are highly trained individuals who are fully equipped in handling and conducting locksmith services that range from lock picking, rekeying and other services for lockouts in residential, commercial and automotive fields.

If you are worried about the technology that the company is using then you would have to fear nothing because the technology that Flat Rate Locksmith is using is state-of-the-art, modern and of the latest version. The technology, equipped with the experience, knowledge and skill of their employees will be more than enough to help you out.

Not only that, they would also help give you advice as well as provide you with expert consultation regarding the different locks that you can use in both residential and commercial settings.

The locksmiths that are available to you are all certified and highly trained locksmiths who will give you the latest expert solutions that you can use with your security.

Flat Rate Locksmith also recognizes people’s needs especially in times of emergency situations or lockouts. That is why they are also offering fast services to their clients.

The company also wishes to provide their clients not only with high quality services but also to satisfy them with a very affordable flat rate service. This would give clients the benefit of hiring the best service at the best price.

Security has always been a main issue in the lives of many people that is why there are many different locksmith companies who are willing to help various people with their security needs. Companies like Gronbek Locksmiths and Flat Rate Locksmith are one of those companies who value quality and professionalism above all else as well as the satisfaction of the clients that seek their help.

The International Monetary Fund is predicting India to overtake China’s economic growth this year. The south Asian power nation has improved immensely its economy for the last few years. Its market indices are pushing in new highs. The different industries in India are outperforming each other. Specifically for the textile and apparel industry, market analysts predict that it will cross the $350 billion mark in the year 2025.

Many investors are confident that the boom in the textile industry in India will continue. The prediction that it will cross the $350 billion mark will potentially happen even before the year 2025 if the country diversifies into new product categories like the Man Made Fibers (MMF).

The government on the other hand has ambitiously set a goal of $650 billion by the end of 2025. In a trade expo of different textiles, the head of the industry expressed that the government’s standard might be too daunting to achieve. The $350 billion set by analysts is the more realistic goal to achieve within ten years.

The textile industry in India generated yearly revenue of approximately $100 billion. The exporting of apparels and textiles alone contributed to as much as $60 billion of the annual revenue. The market in China is perceived to reach an annual income of $300 billion.

The share of India in the textile industry is just about 4 percent compared to China’s 44 percent. The Indian businesses have a lot of hard work to do according to market analysts.

Growing MMF

The Man Made Fibers (MMF) takes a share of 30 percent in the fiber consumption of the country in contrast to at least 70 percent in the world market. The high targets being set for the textile industry will only be made possible if the Man Made Fibers will tremendously grow. Once the MMF soars to new highs, fiber requirements in the country will also improve.

One aspect that India needs to give attention is the equipments and facilities of its production center. India needs to improve its production facilities and efficiency in order to eclipse other leading countries in the textile industry.

The fostered youth may think that they are underprivileged; in fact, college was not even an option to them before. But the people at Cerritos College thought of the ways the fostered youth can cope up with college. The Leaders Involved in Creating Change or simply LINC was established to help fostered youth become more independent through counseling and tutoring in Cerritos College.

Everybody knows that being a fostered youth is difficult enough for them to be thinking about college but Cerritos College wishes to help them through the different services that they offer on and off campus.

Some of the services they are offering are academic counseling, tutoring, and access to food pantry, providing college materials, various workshops and emergency bus tokens.

The LINC program may not be known to most of the student population. That is because this program and all of its benefits is exclusive only for the current and former fostered youth.

Yvette Tafoya, the EOPS assistant director, said that LINC’s biggest benefit is that it allows the students to develop a goal that they thought was impossible for them to achieve.

Tafoya added that many of those fostered youth didn’t even think that they would be able to go to college and now that they’re at Cerritos College, they want to help them and make them understand the benefits of going to college and giving them hope.

In order to further prove LINC’s positive effect on the fostered youth, Zuleika Dixon, a fostered youth herself, said that LINC has helped her in many personal ways. They were the ones who helped her prepare her resume and had even given her tips on presentation and speaking so that she could land good interviews inside the campus and another company.

Dixon also said that the most helpful part of the program were the workshops and appointments because they were delivered in a more personal way and that they have an understanding of what students like Zuleika need. She also said that LINC had helped her whenever she felt like being singled out. They help the foster youth to avoid feeling lost in the crowd and disconnected from the others.

The steep decline in the prices of oil is always an interesting topic for discussions. When I met with these guys from www.perth-web-design.com.au/ we got to talking about the impact of the low oil prices on business and consumer spending based on the latest breaking news.

The general consensus is lower prices of oil is good for the economy but the truth is there are winners and losers. For Australia, the impact on energy exports and capital imports are complex. A US$40 decline in oil prices will equate to an income transfer of around US$3 trillion from oil producers to oil consumers. If the 40% cut in oil prices is sustained it is generally assumed to increase global GDP by at least 80% per annum.

The favorable effects of low prices of oil are the increased propensity for consumers to spend. On the other hand, low prices of oil will force the government to curtail programs and subsidies because oil companies who are financing these ambitious public spending programs have limited ability to sustain the projects from their oil incomes. A stronger dollar may offset some of the benefits of low oil prices to reduce savings. A factor that is often overlooked is that in local currency terms, oil was still trading at near record highs until very recently particularly in emerging markets.

Low oil prices will also reduce investments in energy exploration, development and production. Oil producers are already reducing costs and renegotiating contracts with oil service groups. This lower level of spending will have an adverse effect on activity and growth.

In Australia, the low prices of petrol are offset by lower prices in energy exports like LNG and coal, because their prices are linked to oil. Lower investments in the commodity sector and the deferral of existing projects will reduce the benefits gained from low oil prices. The Australian Stock Market has a high concentration of resource companies and banks that lend to these businesses. This means that any problems in the energy sector will affect the income from and value of the financial investments. A large movement in oil prices also has the potential to create significant financial instability particularly in debt markets.

Houzz is the leading home remodeling and design platform and each year, they give recognition to the different companies that have shown excellence in their performance through their ‘Best of Houzz’ awards. This year, the Best of Houzz award for Customer Satisfaction was given to the Portland-based Macadam Floor and Design.

Macadam Floor and Design is known to provide their customers a wide selection of high quality and beautiful floorings, window coverings and countertops for new home designs. Through their exceptional performance, especially when it comes to customer satisfaction, the company was selected by Houzz as the leading company for customer satisfaction this 2015. Macadam Floor and Design was chosen among a group of 500 companies and professionals in the home building, remodeling and designing industry.

One of the criteria for judging in this award is the number of favorable and positive customer reviews that the company has received last 2014.

Houzz gives out home improvement information to more than 25 million online and mobile users. Houzz is also able to connect countless of companies around the nation and the world.

Anthony Ivelia, the general manager of Macadam Floor and Design, said that they are truly honored to have received the award from Houzz and that the award is well deserved because they have been an industry leader for 30 years and that their aim is to provide less-worry service that will be from start-to-finish.

Macadam is one of the biggest flooring companies in the Northwest and they always give their customers the easiest and most affordable price for their service and products. The company is also flexible as they are always up-to-date with the latest changes, trends and styles in their industry and use them to further enhance their services.

Ivelia had commended and gave recognition to their employees as they are the ones that contribute the most to the success of the company through their professionalism, knowledge, customer service and performance. He also says that they are the main reason for Macadam’s good reputation.

Ivelia also goes on to say that their contractors are the best and the business and they do not waste the trust that their customers have given them.

A couple was approached by a paving company and offered to patch the holes in their driveway. But they did not expect the next happenings and that it would cost them a lot of money.

It was just a regular day for the Silva family when a knock came from their door. When they answered it, they found a paving company called Georgie’s Driveways and Landscaping waiting outside. One of the employers of the company then told Joyce Silva that they still had some asphalt left and that they could patch up the holes in the driveway for only $2/sq. ft if they wanted to.

Since it was a good enough deal, she agreed to have the holes on the driveway filled but that is not the only thing that the paver did. Joyce said that when she had left, the men started to pave the entire driveway and that she had no choice but to allow it because it already has begun. When they had finished, she found out that the whole cost for the service amounted to $2500. But the driveway was not the only problem she had experienced.

The wheelchair of her son, Michael Silva, had sunk into the asphalt causing him to get stuck. Unfortunately now, whenever it rains, there are puddles everywhere and the edges of the driveway were crumbling.

What is upsetting for the Silva family is that they have wasted a lot of money for something that did not help them and instead, had only caused more trouble for them.

The family immediately filed a complaint at the Contractor’s Registration and Licensing Board and had even sought the help of 12 for Action. An inspector arrived Wednesday to check out the driveway and the work made there.

Through 12 for Action’s help, the family had found out that the company is owned by George Stanley and that he is not a registered contractor which was required by the law to make you qualified in working on paving and driveways.

One of the men who worked on the driveway was found. He said that they did everything to make the family happy although he did acknowledge that he could’ve compact the asphalt much tighter. He also blamed the poor quality of work on the quality of the asphalt.

Following Endo International PLC’s aim to dedicate its resources to its core businesses which is in the pharmaceuticals area, the company decided to sell some of its business. For $1.6 billion, the businesses concerning men’s health and prostate owned by Endo International will be turned over to Boston Scientific Corp.

Premarket trading shows a less than 1 per cent decrease in the shares owned by Endo International, a company based in Dublin. Meanwhile, shares owned by Boston Scientific have increased to 1.2 per cent.

According to a representative from Endo International, the sales between them and Boston Scientific has paved way for the company to focus more on their pharmaceuticals businesses and its core financially. Another $50 million will be paid to Endo as milestone payments based on predicted sales by 2016.

The urology and women’s health department of Boston Scientific will be merged with men’s health and prostate businesses by the American Medical System. The men’s businesses which have delved on finding treatment for erectile dysfunction, inconsistency when urinating and other issues related to urology has generated $400 million last year in sales while the income was revealed to be around $130 million.

Mike Mahoney, Chief Executive of Boston Scientific, shared how after this deal, the annual sales are expected to rise to $1 billion after creating further businesses. Those treatments will be able to complement the existing ones done on the disorders experienced by female gynecology and urology. It also one way for Boston Scientific to gain more diverse product portfolio and be separated from the cardiac devices – products responsible for half the sales made by the company.

Earnings from the deal are expected to be even in the year 2015 while another three cents will be added on every share come 2016. Before 2018 ends, pretax synergies will have risen to $50 million. The deal is expected to be final by the third quarter.

Endo International is reported to be suffering from a decrease of 35 cents per share or $53 million in losses during the fourth quarter. Year prior to that, the company has also experienced a loss of $776 million the entire year, bringing the share to $6.74 each.